Ghost Ship Fire: Man Responsible For Killing 36 Released From Prison Over COVID-19 Concerns

A man in California who has been accused of subjecting at least 36 partygoers to fire-related deaths, and was being held behind the bars since 2017, was released Monday from prison over coronavirus concerns. He posted a $150,000 bail in April.

Derick Almena, who was facing his second trial, was released from Santa Rita jail after a court hearing by phone, according to Alameda County sheriff’s office. He is scheduled to face his new trial on July 6 and police said he would be put under electronic supervision until the period.

Almena, 50, was charged with involuntary manslaughter back in December 2016, after a fire broke out in an electronic music party in a former Oakland warehouse that he had converted into an artist collective, naming it Ghost Ship. Almena, a master tenant of the property, was accused of criminal negligence for holding events without proper permits. Prosecutors said that the building was packed with furniture, extension cord, and other flammable material with barely any smoke detectors, fire alarms, or sprinklers.

Santa Rita jail has recorded at least 35 positive COVID-19 cases so far. Jail medical staff alerted the authorities that Almena’s psychological and physical health was going downhill in view of the situation. He was released in the rural community of Upper Lake, where his children and wife live. He is banned from contacting relatives of victims or witnesses. He can venture out of his home only in terms of written approval from the court and will be sent back to jail in case of violation, the Mercury News reported.

Officials hinted at his possible release last month but that was denied. “COVID has had a huge impact on everything, including the courts,” Paula Canny, a criminal defense attorney said. “Derick Almena is being held pre-trial and so under the courts, under the Chief Justice’s ruling, there should be no bail, but there was an emergency thing that allowed courts, if the person is in danger to public safety, not honor the zero bail.”

Canny said his trial was originally scheduled for May but was rescheduled in compliance with the governor’s coronavirus order.